I decided to host a wine tasting party for a small group of friends in my own home in preparation for a larger fund raising event I hope to have later in the year. Besides stocking up my wine rack with a modest selection of red wine varietals, I have to serve some snacks.
After a little research I decided to go with cheese. It may seem a bit boring but for a newbee it may be a good way to get started. And of course cheese is a tad more budget friendly that say luxury chocolates or catering from the local restaurant. Using wines and cheese from the same regions is a good idea. So if I go with red wines from France or specifically Bordeaux, my cheeses should originate in the same geographical region.
That doesn’t work too well as the recommendation for Cabernet Sauvignon is either cheddar cheese or Danish blue. It seems the higher the amount of tannic, the harder the complimentary cheese. You should put salty cheese with sweet wine according to the wine experts and you should save soft cheese for softer wines like whites.
Cabernet Francs apparently pair well with cheddar, camembert and brie. Merlot goes well with brie, camembert and cheddar. Pinot Noir works with camembert brie and feta. The Shiraz works with cheddar, Gouda and parmesan.
Well that helps a lot. Cheddar is a very British cheese so I think I would have to hop over the Channel
for that one. I am a fan of real English cheese and don’t think a French substitute would cut it. A harder cheddar seems appropriate. Camembert and brie are both French cheeses so I would definitely go with those. Which brand I’m not sure so hope to quiz the guy at the deli counter for a little help.
I think for the last two cheeses (I’m doing five and five) I’ll do feta and parmesan. That way if there is a lot left over I can use those for cooking. And of course, they’ll pair well with anything left over on the wine rack. They also work well with dips and crackers which I intend to serve on the side.
Phew! It’s a lot of work organizing a wine and cheese party. Better go print up those tasting cards.
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